Elastic and resilient panel and grommet for interchangeable logos

ABSTRACT

An article includes a fabric having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one hole through the outer surface and inner surface, a flexible grommet member comprising an outer portion and an inner portion, wherein the outer portion contacts the outer surface with a flange and engages the hole with an outer portion collar, wherein the inner portion contacts the inner surface with a flange and engages the hole with an inner portion collar, wherein the outer portion collar contacts the inner portion collar, wherein the outer portion collar and the inner portion collar are bonded, and wherein the flexible grommet member is configured to engage interchangeable logo buttons.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates in general to the field of clothing and accessoryarticles. In particular clothing and accessory articles that allow theuse of interchangeable logos.

BACKGROUND

Clothing and accessory articles often display logos or otherdecorations. These logos are typically permanently fixed to the articlesby sewing, silk screening, or other processes. However, one example ofclothing, in this case, shoes, is exemplified in U.S. Pat. PublicationNo. 2006/0048407 A1 entitled “BREATHABLE WORKSHOES AND METHODS FORMANUFACTURING SUCH”, allow the use of interchangeable logo buttons.

The breathable workshoes are constructed of a resilient and flexiblematerial. The resiliency and flexibility of the material allows therepeated insertion and removal of interchangeable logo buttons fromholes in the toe or other areas of the workshoe. This allows the user toselectively change the logo buttons on the workshoes.

Users often collect a variety of logo buttons. Therefore, it may bedesirable to wear a number of logo buttons at a time, or to display thelogo buttons on an article of clothing besides workshoes.

The breathable workshoes are predominantly constructed of a flexible andresilient plastic material. However, other clothing articles arecommonly manufactured with a variety of materials including cotton,polyester, wool, leather, etc. Many of these materials have limitedflexibility or resiliency, thus a user cannot repeatedly insert andremove interchangeable logo buttons. In other words, many materials thatare commonly used to produce clothing articles lack the necessaryflexibility or resiliency to allow the repeated insertion and removal ofinterchangeable logo buttons. From the above, it is apparent that a needexists in the industry for a solution to these deficiencies.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, disclosed is an article comprising a fabric having aninner surface and an outer surface, and at least one hole through theouter surface and inner surface, a flexible grommet member attached tothe outer surface of the fabric engaging the edge of the hole, whereinthe flexible grommet member is configured to engage interchangeable logobuttons.

In another embodiment, an article comprising an elastic panel having aninner surface and an outer surface at least one hole through the outersurface and the inner surface, wherein the hole is configured to engageinterchangeable logo buttons.

In another embodiment, disclosed is an article comprising a fabrichaving an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one hole throughthe outer surface and inner surface, a flexible grommet membercomprising an outer portion and an inner portion, wherein the outerportion contacts the outer surface with a flange and engages the holewith an outer portion collar. The inner portion contacts the innersurface with a flange and engages the hole with an inner portion collar,wherein the outer portion collar contacts the inner portion collar. Theouter portion collar and the inner portion collar are bonded and, theflexible grommet member is configured to engage interchangeable logobuttons.

Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages of thedisclosed elastic and resilient panel and grommet for interchangeablelogos will be apparent or will become apparent to one with skill in theart upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.All such additional systems, devices, methods, features, and advantagesare intended to be included within the description and are intended tobe protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present disclosure may be better understood with reference to thefollowing figures. Matching reference numerals designate correspondingparts throughout the figures, and components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the prior art illustrating a breathablework shoe and an interchangeable logo button;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prior art illustrating aninterchangeable logo button;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a clothing article thatincorporates an elastic panel and an interchangeable logo button;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of a clothingarticle with an elastic panel and an engaged interchangeable logobutton;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a clothing articleand an elastic panel and an engaged interchangeable logo button takenalong line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a clothing article thatincorporates flexible grommets and an interchangeable logo button;

FIG. 7 is a cut away view of an embodiment of fabric that incorporatesflexible grommets; and

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of fabric thatincorporates flexible grommets and an engaged interchangeable logobutton; taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of shoes exemplified inU.S. Pat. Publication No. 2006/0048407 A1 entitled “BREATHABLE WORKSHOESAND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH”. The shoe 100 is constructed of aflexible and resilient plastic material. This material allows the holes105 in the shoe 100 to stretch and return to their original shape whenan interchangeable logo button 102 is inserted into a hole 105. Theresiliency of the material allows a user to repeatedly insert and removeinterchangeable logo buttons 102 from the holes 105.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prior art illustrating aninterchangeable logo button 202. The interchangeable logo button 202comprises a button member 204 that may display a logo and a stem member206 that is attached to a retaining member 208. The retaining member 208may have a rounded portion 210 that facilitates insertion of theinterchangeable logo button 202 into a flexible and resilient hole in aclothing article (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a clothing article thatincorporates an elastic panel 314 and an engaged interchangeable logobutton 302 engaged in one of the holes 316. This embodiment illustratesa possible application of the elastic panel 314 in a hat 300. Thoseskilled in the art will understand that the elastic panel 314 may beincorporated into a variety of clothing articles not limited to hats.For example, the elastic panel 314 may be incorporated into but notlimited to: shirts, shorts, swim wear, belts, sunglasses, shoes,watchbands, trousers, or skirts. Additionally, one skilled in the artwill understand that the elastic panel 314 may be incorporated intonon-clothing articles such as, but not limited to: hand bags, tote bags,luggage, umbrellas, towels, blankets, key chains, or wallets. Further,the elastic panel 314 is not limited to a rectangular shape, but may beone of a variety of shapes including but not limited to: circular,trapezoidal, triangular, or an irregular shape.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of elastic panel 414 andan engaged interchangeable logo button 402. In the present embodiment,panel 414 is incorporated into hat 400 by stitching 407, however, oneskilled in the art will appreciate that elastic panel 414 may beincorporated into hat 400 by another process such as, but not limitedto, bonding, or other suitable process. In this embodiment, elasticpanel 414 has three holes 416 that may engage and retain aninterchangeable logo button 402. Though this embodiment shows threeholes 416, arranged in a colinear fashion, the elastic panel 414 is notlimited in the number of holes 416 or their arrangement in the elasticpanel 414.

The holes 416 may also have a grommet member 418 with, for example, arounded profile extending from the outer surface 401 of the elasticpanel 414. The purpose of the grommet member 418 is to strengthen theholes 416 in order to facilitate the repeated insertion and removal ofinterchangeable logo buttons 402. In this embodiment, the grommetmembers 418 are molded from the same piece of material as the elasticpanel 414. However, those skilled in the art will understand that insome embodiments, the grommet members 418 may be molded separately fromthe elastic panel 414 and installed in the elastic panel 414 using avariety of known plastic bonding processes such as, but not limited toultra-sonic welding, hot plate welding, or high frequency welding.

One skilled in the art will also understand that the holes 416 and thegrommet members 418 are not limited to circular shapes, and can be anyone of, but not limited to: rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, apredominantly straight shape such as one similar to a button hole, orany other irregular shape.

In this embodiment, the elastic panel 414 comprises PVC. However, oneskilled in the art would understand that the elastic panel 414 may bemanufactured from any suitable material that accepts a logo button orthe like.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of hat 300, theelastic panel 514 and the engaged interchangeable logo button 502. Theelastic panel 514 is attached to the hat fabric 550. The presentembodiment includes a hat band 552, but one of ordinary skill in the artwill understand that the hat band 552 may or may not be included inother embodiments. The elastic panel 514 may have one or a pluralityholes 516. In the present embodiment, the circumference of the holes 505on the outer surface 501 of the elastic panel 514 is in contact withgrommet members 518 and the grommet members 518 are in contact with theouter surface 501 of the elastic panel 514. One skilled in the art willunderstand that the holes 516 are not limited to having one grommetmember 518 on the outer surface 501 of the elastic panel 514, but may,alternatively, have an additional grommet member 518 on the innersurface 503. In another possible embodiment, there may be no grommetmember 518, or there may be a grommet member 518 on the inner surface503 but not on the outer surface 501.

A user may insert the retaining member 508 and stem member 506 of theinterchangeable logo button 502 into the hole 516. The flexibility andresiliency of the elastic panel 514 allows the hole 516 and the grommetmember 518 to expand. This expansion facilitates the insertion of theretaining member 508 into the hole 516. In this embodiment, the roundedshape of the grommet member 518 and the rounded portion of the retainingmember 508 assist the user in inserting the interchangeable logo button502 into the hole 516. Once the retaining member 508 has passed throughthe hole 516, the resilient qualities of the elastic panel 514 andgrommet member 518 allow the hole 516 and grommet member 518 to returnto their original shape. Since the hole's shape has a smaller diameterthan the diameter of the retaining member 508, the retaining member 508retains the interchangeable logo button 502 in the hole 516. A user mayremove the interchangeable logo button 502 from the hole 516 by firstapplying force to the elastic panel 514 so that the hole 516 expands toa diameter greater than the diameter of retaining member 508. Then, theuser may pull the stem 506 and the retaining member 508 out of the hole516.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a clothing article thatincorporates flexible grommets and an interchangeable logo button. Inthe illustrated embodiment, flexible grommet members 620 engage aplurality of holes 616 in the fabric 612 of a hat 600. The holes 616 andflexible grommet members 620 allow the repeated insertion and removal ofinterchangeable logo button 602. Again, one skilled in the art willunderstand that the holes 616 and flexible grommet member 620 are notlimited in application to hats but may be incorporated into a variety ofclothing articles or other non-clothing articles as discussed inalternative embodiments above.

FIG. 7 illustrates one possible embodiment of flexible grommet membersin a fabric. One skilled in the art will understand that the fabric 712may comprise a number of materials including, but not limited to:cotton, polyester, wool, rubber, leather, nylon, plastic, a blend ofpolyester and wool, or any other suitable material.

In the illustrated embodiment, one or a plurality of holes 716 is cut inthe fabric 712. The holes are of a diameter that will allow theretaining member 208 of an interchangeable logo button 202 (shown inFIG. 2) to pass through the hole 716. One skilled in the art willunderstand that if the fabric 712 does not have sufficient resilientproperties, the retaining member 208 may not engage the inner surface703 of the fabric 712 and retain the interchangeable logo button 202.Therefore, flexible grommet member 720 with elastic and resilientproperties may be installed in hole 716 to engage an interchangeablelogo button 202. The flexible grommet member 720 in this embodiment, isPVC, but those skilled in the art will understand that the flexiblegrommet member may be manufactured from any material with suitableflexibility and resiliency.

In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible grommet member 720 comprisestwo portions, an outer portion 722 and an inner portion 724. The outerportion 722 may have an outer portion collar 717 and the inner portion724 may have an inner portion collar 715. The outer portion collar 717and the inner portion collar 715 may be inserted into one of the holes716. The outer portion 722 and inner portion 724 are sized and shaped sothat mating surfaces 726 are in contact while the flanges 719 and 721contact the outer surface 701 and the inner surface 703 of the fabricrespectively. The outer portion 722 and inner portion 724 are bondedtogether at the mating surfaces 726 using a suitable bonding processsuch as ultra sonic welding. Thus, when bonded together, the outerportion 722 and inner portion 724 are retained by the hole 716. Oneskilled in the art will understand that the bonding process is notlimited to ultra sonic welding but may include but is not limited to:hot plate welding, or high frequency welding.

Note that in the illustrated embodiment, the outer portion 722 and innerportion 724 are the same size and shape. However, the outer portion 722and inner portion 724 are not limited to being the same, and may havedifferent dimensions. For example, the flanges 722 and 721 may be sizedand shaped differently or the dimensions of the outer portion collar 717and the inner portion collar 715 may be different so that the matingsurfaces 726 meet in hole 716 closer to or farther from the outersurface 701 of the fabric 712.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of fabric thatincorporates flexible grommets and an engaged interchangeable logobutton. In the illustrated embodiment, a user may insert the retainingmember 808 and stem member 806 of the interchangeable logo button 802into the hole 816 in the flexible grommet member 820. The flexibilityand resiliency of the flexible grommet member 820 allows the hole 816and the flexible grommet member 820 to expand. This expansionfacilitates the insertion of the retaining member 808 into the hole 816.In this embodiment, the rounded shape of the flexible grommet member 820and the rounded portion 810 of the retaining member 808 assist the userin inserting the interchangeable logo button 802 into the hole 816. Oncethe retaining member 808 has passed through the hole 816, the resilientqualities of the flexible grommet member 820 allow the hole 816 toreturn to the hole's original shape. Since the hole's shape has asmaller diameter than the diameter of the retaining member 808,retaining member 808 retains the interchangeable logo button 802 and thestem member 806 in the hole 816. A user may remove the interchangeablelogo button 802 from the hole 816 by first applying force to theflexible grommet member 820 so that the hole 816 expands to a diametergreater than the diameter of retaining member 808. The user may thenpull the stem 806 and the retaining member 808 out of the hole 816. Thepresent embodiment includes a hat band 852, but one of ordinary skill inthe art will understand that the hat band 552 may or may not be includedin other embodiments.

While particular embodiments of an elastic and resilient panel andgrommet for interchangeable logos have been disclosed in detail in theforegoing description and figures for purposes of example, those skilledin the art will understand that variations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the disclosure. All such variationsand modifications are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent disclosure, as protected by the following claims.

1. An article comprising: an elastic panel having an inner surface andan outer surface; at least one hole through the outer surface and theinner surface; wherein the hole is configured to engage interchangeablelogo buttons.
 2. The article of claim 1, wherein the outer surfacecomprises a grommet member having an inner circumference and outercircumference; wherein the inner circumference of the grommet membercontacts the circumference of the hole.
 3. An article comprising: afabric having an inner surface and an outer surface; at least one holethrough the outer surface and inner surface; a flexible grommet memberattached to the outer surface of the fabric engaging the edge of thehole. wherein the flexible grommet member is configured to engageinterchangeable logo buttons.
 4. The article of claim 3 wherein theflexible grommet member is attached to the inner surface of the fabricengaging the edge of the hole.
 5. The article of claim 3 wherein theflexible grommet member is attached to the inner surface and outersurface of the fabric engaging the edge of the hole.
 6. An articlecomprising: a fabric having an inner surface and an outer surface; atleast one hole through the outer surface and inner surface; a flexiblegrommet member comprising an outer portion and an inner portion; whereinthe outer portion contacts the outer surface with a flange and engagesthe hole with an outer portion collar; wherein the inner portioncontacts the inner surface with a flange and engages the hole with aninner portion collar; wherein the outer portion collar contacts theinner portion collar; wherein the outer portion collar and the innerportion collar are bonded; and wherein the flexible grommet member isconfigured to engage interchangeable logo buttons.